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‘Dukes of Destiny’ return to Pastorius

The Philadelphia-based blues band, The Dukes of Destiny, will continue the Pastorius Park Concert Series on Wednesday, July 3. The show will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the park, Lincoln Drive and W. Abington Avenue

The Dukes of Destiny was formed in 1984 and has built a reputation as a reliable force in local music. The band started out performing at house parties in Germantown before getting a career-making gig at the old Taker’s Café in Germantown. The performance at Taker’s sparked the group’s popularity, and they have been a staple in the Philadelphia music community ever since.

The group’s success eventually led to the release of four CDs. Its first CD, titled “The Dukes of Destiny,” was released in 1991. It released a second album in 1998, titled “Window Shopping in the House of Forbidden Love.” Its third album, “3,” came out in 2004, and its most recent CD, “Higher,” was released in December of 2012. All four CDs were well-received by critics and fans alike.

The band plays a mix of both traditional Chicago-style blues and RnB and count Muddy Waters, James Brown, Aretha Franklin and Chuck Berry among their influences. Covers of songs by each artist are staples in the band’s repertoire.

The band is led by singer Arlyn Walters, and harmonica-playing singer John Colgan-Davis. Rich Curtis is the bassist, CC Crabtree plays the saxophone, Bob Holden is the drummer, Richard Adler is the guitarist, and “Chicago” Carl Snyder backs up the band with his keyboard. Although Walters is the main vocalist, other members of the band, such as Colgan-Davis, also sing at times.

This will not be the band’s first time playing in Chestnut Hill. It has been part of the Pastorius Park Concert Series for the past few years. The band has also played at the Chestnut Hill Garden Festival and Fall for the Arts. Similar to other bands in the Pastorius Park Concert Series, they frequently play at World Café Live in Philadelphia. They also perform regularly at the Mermaid Inn in Chestnut Hill.

The Dukes of Destiny will be sure to please when they take the stage on July 3, having been gracing the Philadelphia area with their bluesy music for nearly 30 years, and they will surely give their best for the Chestnut Hill faithful.

The rain location for each concert will be at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy’s Lower School Auditorium, Cherokee Campus, 8000 Cherokee St. Rain statuses will be posted on chestnuthill.org by 6 p.m. the day of the show.

The concert series is organized and produced by the Chestnut Hill Community Association and made possible by donations from the Chestnut Hill Community Fund and Chestnut Hill Hospital. Further sponsorship is provided by WXPN-FM and the Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department. Be sure to check back with the Local for previews of each band act the week before each concert.